Day 6: Castle Valley Inn, Moab to Buffalo Sage B&B, Tropic, Utah

There were pancakes with spiced apple on the menu for breakfast at Castle Valley Inn and the guests were amused by the owners’ 13 month old toddler in his sleep suit cruising round the tables.  

Unfortunately our rooms were in a semi-basement which meant that we couldn’t see out to appreciate the orchard and the flowerbeds in which this B&B is set.  The very young couple who appear to be the owners were managing breakfast on their own in a very small dining room, where the guests were pushing past each other to get to the tea, coffee etc. The half hour slot allocated for each breakfast sitting wasn’t quite long enough to eat and drink in comfort.  It’s a shame because the owners were charming and we hope they make a go of it.

We drove north from Moab via Huntsville, then west to Torrey, then south through the San Rafael desert to Fruita.   We passed through many changes of scenery – coloured rock formations, strange shapes that looked as though they had been cast from concrete, bare wide plains of sparse shrubs and strips of green alongside the infrequent rivers.  

At Fruita there were grass and fruit trees.  We bought some food at a Mormon Homestead museum shop at Capitol Reef National Park and had a picnic in the park using up the left-overs in the ice box. 

On the way from the park to Tropic we climbed up through the tree line and drove through pinewoods dotted with the most gorgeous golden yellow aspens.  There were some spectacular views across great swathes of jagged rocks and outcrops.  One of the highlights of the drive was the section of road along a twisting ridge that dropped down vertically on either side into great canyons.  Wouldn’t like to do it in the dark!

Buffalo Sage B&B is just a few miles before Bryce Canyon.  It’s like a large log cabin with a veranda around two sides catching the morning and the evening sun.  We have good rooms with beds with super thick mattresses on very high log bases.  

The only dinner choice was a pizza place and one other restaurant, so we took our chances with pizza and it was OK!   Back at the B&B there was a fantastic night sky, with the milky way visible from one side of the valley to the other.  If we come here again we must bring a star map with us.  It's not much good if you can only pick out The Plough!  It took some effort to climb up onto the bed (must have been all that pizza!).  

 The weather has cooled somewhat but we hope for a fine day tomorrow for exploring Bryce Canyon.  

Food report:  Pancakes and pizza in one day?  Gross, as they say hereabouts!